UAD affixes sun-powered rotating louvers on sports center's modular facade in hangzhou

Shooting, Archery, Modern Pentathlon Venue for the Asian Games

UAD Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University builds Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center in Hangzhou following the guiding concept of ‘realizing green Asian Games through cost-effective measures and constructing cultural Asian Games through low-tech means’. By adhering to the requirements of professional sports technology and merging them with the distinctive Fuyang landscape, the design adopts a simple form and a compact spatial layout and applies environmentally friendly building materials through low-tech construction means shaping the competition venues for shooting, archery, and modern pentathlon for the anticipated Asian Games in China. The project aims to create ‘green, intelligent, and concise’ facilities and stands as one of the twelve newly constructed venues for the 19th Asian Games in 2023.

Nestled amidst mountains to the west and north, bordered by water to the south, and connected to the city in the east, the site embraces its natural surroundings. The project seeks to blend contemporary construction techniques with the essence of the site and to create a diverse and composite sports arena, that merges with the landscape while fulfilling its functional requirements and conveys the flavor of Hangzhou and the distinct characteristics of Fuyang to athletes and coaches from participating countries.

all images by Zhao Qiang

multiple sloping roofs fuse with the surrounding mountains

To accommodate the site’s varying elevations and protect the surrounding natural environment, the design incorporates five elevation terraces. These terraces efficiently connect the three competition events by utilizing a second-floor platform to organize the flow of people. The qualifying and final competition zones for the shooting events are vertically distributed, with common functions centralized in the press and security center, optimizing the site’s utilization. In terms of architectural modeling, the shooting gymnasium exhibits a square plane and voluminous form, characterized by multi-section sloping roofs that harmonize with the surrounding mountains.

The design team draws from Huang Gongwang’s Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains implementing parametric and pixelated techniques, transitioning from abstraction to figuration. The building facade utilizes modular and low-cost standard components, foregoing high-tech approaches in favor of simplicity. By employing over 37,000 unit modules that can rotate at different angles, the architectural surface reinterprets the natural scenery along the Fuchun River. These movable louvers operate in fifteen simple rotation angles creating a captivating effect.

The concept draws from the notion of ‘learning from nature’, not only involving imitation but also embracing natural light as a guide, capturing the nuances of light and shadow and reinterpreting nature in a simple and organic manner. The ever-changing surface, informed by the play of light gradually unfolds during the day. The louver shadows silently record the passage of time, as the building cleverly utilizes natural light to reproduce the vibrant essence of the Fuchun landscape.

the professional sports venues merge with the distinctive Fuyang landscape

recyclable steel structures set up the building framework

Many sports venues, particularly those geared towards highly specialized competitions with small audiences, face challenges in terms of long-term use. The Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, however, embodies a design strategy focused on green and low-carbon principles, rapid construction and demolition, and component reusability. The project attends to the venue’s potential utilization beyond the Asian Games, envisioning spaces for news and security centers, auxiliary rooms, and stables, among others. The design employs recyclable steel structures as the primary building framework and utilizes temporary steel spectator stands, facilitating easy removal after the Games. Once the competitions conclude, the venues can be transformed into spaces for mass sports such as swimming, basketball, badminton, and table tennis, promoting public participation and ensuring sustainable operations. 

the facade applies 37,000 rotating modules reinterpreting the natural scenery

the project seeks to blend contemporary construction techniques with the essence of the site

the building adopts a simple compact form and hosts several competition venues

project info:

name: Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center – Shooting, Archery and Modern Pentathlon Venue for the Asian Games
designer: UAD | The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd.

location: Yinhu New District, Fuyang, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

photography: Zhao Qiang

videography: Wu Qingshan

head of design: Hu Huifeng

project leaders: Zhang Chenfan and Li Bing

lead architect: Hangzhou Fuyang Yinhu New District Construction Co., Ltd.

constructor: Shanghai Baoye Group Corp., Ltd.

collaborating architects: Zhang Chenfan, Fang Hua, Lv Ning, Huang Diqi, Zhu Jinyun and Zhang Ziquan

structural design: Zhang Zhengyu and Jiang Fan

water supply/drainage design: Ouyang Hui and Wang Tiefeng

HVAC design: Cao Zhigang, Zhu Shengwei and Li Xintong

electrical design: Yuan Songlin, Feng Shizhen, Zou Fan and Zheng Kai

smart design: Lin Hua, Ye Minjie and Yuan Xiaonan

light design: Wang Xiaodong, Wang Junjie, Liu Yihan, Feng Baile and Wu Xuhui

decoration: Ye Jian, Huang Jianghui and Lin Yunhui

electrical decoration: Xiao Shuzheng and Yu Zicheng

curtain wall design: Hang Fei, Dou Lisha, Luo Wenxin and Yuan Zengrong

landscape design: Feng Bin, Wu Jina, Shen Haitao, Zhang Beibei, Xu Hui, Wang Jue and Zhu Qunjian

municipal administration: Chen Hao, Wu Lingling, Ling Jiayuan, Zhou Hua, Zhu Min, Wang Xueyan and Sun Zhe

rock-soil design: Chen Yun, Yang Qinfeng, Xin Lei and Gu Jiacheng

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom